Our founder, Thomas E. Nolfi, was born 1925 in Stowe Township, a suburb of Pittsburgh. He grew up during the Great Depression years 1929-1940. His father bought him a modest camera when he was 8 years old and he began a passion that would define his entire life. His father died in 1941 when he was sixteen and Thomas started a home-based photography business to help support his family.

In 1943 when Thomas was 18, he was drafted to serve in the U.S. Army during World War II. He served in France, Italy and Germany as a flame-thrower specialist assigned to clearing enemy forces from disabled tanks in the European theater. He served proudly as a well-decorated soldier and was honorably discharged in 1945 as a master sergeant.

Upon his return home, Thomas found work loading mail at the Pittsburgh Airport for the U.S. Postal Service. It wasn't long before his superiors discovered his photographic talent and in 1947 he was assigned as Post Office photographer, soon becoming Chief Photographer for the U.S. Postal Service in Pittsburgh. He was responsible for a wide range of photography encompassing media relations, commercial, industrial, training films and legal/forensic. While working for the Postal Service, Tom married his loving wife Margaret and fathered his three sons Thomas, Robert and Kenneth.

During this time, Thomas Nolfi continued his passion for his art as an associate photographer for some of Pittsburgh's most prestigious photography studios. His award-winning wedding and portrait images won him the respect and admiration of his contemporaries and clients. His unrelenting dedication to innovation earned him the nickname "Nifty Nolfi" from his colleagues. It was said that "You never knew what Tom would be doing next, but you could be sure that it would be something no one had done before."

In 1982 Tom retired from the Postal Service and, with the help of his wife and sons, fulfilled his lifelong dream of opening his own photography studio. He was a modest man and it took quite a bit of persuasion for us to convince him to name it Studio TEN .. his initials, that all of his equipment bore. On April 12, 1987 heaven needed another angel and Tom filled that position. We celebrate his passion for innovation and continue his tradition of excellence today.